How to cache to External SDcard speed up video buffering, faster and smoother video streaming.

[Joecap]

flash drive

can you do this on a flash drive instead or does this only work on a sd card

[buhohitr]

can you do this on a flash drive instead or does this only work on a sd card

As long as your device can see the storage and the storage must be fast then it would work. The sdcard I used is rated 30mb/sec sandisk 32gb. Since the app External 2 Internal is not stable, I have found one that very stable call "foldermount". I would like to edit my original post with this info but the site won't let me!

[buhohitr]

Update to my original post with better app called "foldermount"

Ok, since I can't edit my original post, here is my update on the process, due to the instability of the "External 2 Internal" app, I have found another app called "Foldermount" which is very stable and working well.
Hi all,
After an extensive search for the answer for the below issues, I believe I found the solutions:
a) Commoncache error if attempted to edit Advancedsettings.xml file to do path substitution to SDcard
b) Long buffering while watching movies, specially 720/1080 movies.
c) Looking for faster and smoother video streaming playback
d) cache loads faster when try to click on "date release", "new movies", "all 720 movies" etc...
e) Cache full message after buffering.

Solution (More simplify and a lot eaier to setup)

** Make sure you buy a class 10 high speed card (30mb/sec) and FORMAT with ext4 or FAT32(fat32 is slower than ext4 but it should works fine too). Also you must startup xbmc at least once in order to create xbmc folder, then do all your setup once done shutdown xbmc then proceed below:

1) Format your SDCard
Download Fat32formatter from here http://fat32-formatter.softwareandgames.com/ and use it to format your sdcard. (your sdcard will be your normal storage and for xbmc caching.
2) Create XBMC cache folder on the external SD Card):
Use ES file explore or Root browser and navigate to
/mnt/external_sd folder, then create a new folder and name it what ever you want, I named "XBMC_cache", without quote.(this folder will hold all the xbmc movie cache).
3) Map your XBMC cache folder to the external SD Card (Only the cache folder required)
Download an app called "Foldermount", launch the app, tab on the "+" icon to add pair. You will be prompt for the following options and you need to fill in:
a) Give the mapping a name, I called it XBMC_data_mapping"
b) Provide the path to the original xbmc data cache folder: /data/data/name of the xbmc folder (the name depended on what version of your xbmc you are using. For beyond XBMC, it called com.flumster.xbmc. So source path should look like this /data/data/com.flumster.xbmc
c) Provide the path to the destination folder on the SD Card: /mnt/external_sd/xbmc_cache (this folder I created previously), then tab on the check mark at the top right to save.
d) Once done, tab on the PIN icon, it will turn green, meaning it successfully mapped.(if not turn green, tab again)
4) Configure your XBMC to have unlimited caching - the entire movie!
a) If you are using Advancedsettings.xml file, which located in /sdcard/Android/data/com.flumster.xbmc (I'm using beyond xbmc) make a backup.
b) Install xbmctalk maintenance program from Xunitytalk. After installed you should see it under PROGRAMS. Launch this, select "xbmctalk TWEAKS", then select "Add 0 cache Advanced XML". This will create a new Advancedsettings.xml file.

Reboot your device and enjoy smoother, faster movie play back by caching the entire movie to your external SD card.
If you have any question, please don't hesitate to ask. My XBMC is really acting like playing a physical DVD, which is no more buffering, stuttering.

[Guest]

Works great..... Thanks for sharing.

Startup time of Xbmc is a fraction slower "preparing first run" 0,5 second.

But no buffer stutter again....!!

[r3ed]

Ok, since I can't edit my original post, here is my update on the process, due to the instability of the "External 2 Internal" app, I have found another app called "Foldermount" which is very stable and working well.
Hi all,
After an extensive search for the answer for the below issues, I believe I found the solutions:
a) Commoncache error if attempted to edit Advancedsettings.xml file to do path substitution to SDcard
b) Long buffering while watching movies, specially 720/1080 movies.
c) Looking for faster and smoother video streaming playback
d) cache loads faster when try to click on "date release", "new movies", "all 720 movies" etc...
e) Cache full message after buffering.

Solution (More simplify and a lot eaier to setup)

** Make sure you buy a class 10 high speed card (30mb/sec) and FORMAT with ext4 or FAT32(fat32 is slower than ext4 but it should works fine too). Also you must startup xbmc at least once in order to create xbmc folder, then do all your setup once done shutdown xbmc then proceed below:

1) Format your SDCard
Download Fat32formatter from here http://fat32-formatter.softwareandgames.com/ and use it to format your sdcard. (your sdcard will be your normal storage and for xbmc caching.
2) Create XBMC cache folder on the external SD Card):
Use ES file explore or Root browser and navigate to
/mnt/external_sd folder, then create a new folder and name it what ever you want, I named "XBMC_cache", without quote.(this folder will hold all the xbmc movie cache).
3) Map your XBMC cache folder to the external SD Card (Only the cache folder required)
Download an app called "Foldermount", launch the app, tab on the "+" icon to add pair. You will be prompt for the following options and you need to fill in:
a) Give the mapping a name, I called it XBMC_data_mapping"
b) Provide the path to the original xbmc data cache folder: /data/data/name of the xbmc folder (the name depended on what version of your xbmc you are using. For beyond XBMC, it called com.flumster.xbmc. So source path should look like this /data/data/com.flumster.xbmc
c) Provide the path to the destination folder on the SD Card: /mnt/external_sd/xbmc_cache (this folder I created previously), then tab on the check mark at the top right to save.
d) Once done, tab on the PIN icon, it will turn green, meaning it successfully mapped.(if not turn green, tab again)
4) Configure your XBMC to have unlimited caching - the entire movie!
a) If you are using Advancedsettings.xml file, which located in /sdcard/Android/data/com.flumster.xbmc (I'm using beyond xbmc) make a backup.
b) Install xbmctalk maintenance program from Xunitytalk. After installed you should see it under PROGRAMS. Launch this, select "xbmctalk TWEAKS", then select "Add 0 cache Advanced XML". This will create a new Advancedsettings.xml file.

Reboot your device and enjoy smoother, faster movie play back by caching the entire movie to your external SD card.
If you have any question, please don't hesitate to ask. My XBMC is really acting like playing a physical DVD, which is no more buffering, stuttering.

Hi buhohitr
I am trying to do the above, but with JustXBMC and i could do with some help as i don't know where the original cache file is for JustXBMC so i can re-map it using foldermount.
Many thanks
Steve

[permansu]

It is necesary to move the entire xbmc folder?

Hi, thanks for your recommendation and instructions. I can confirm that it works very well, but I have some questions. You recommend moving the entire XBMC folder. Is it necessary? Do not you think it could be just enough to move the cache folder?, What are the advantages between moving the entire folder and only the cache pne? BTW where is located the cache folder in beyondxbmc?

[buhohitr]

Even you point to the root folder but only the cache folder is moved. This done by advance settings.XML file. You only want the cache folder move.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

[permansu]

Even you point to the root folder but only the cache folder is moved. This done by advance settings.XML file. You only want the cache folder move.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

Thanks!

[jsegovia612]

Even you point to the root folder but only the cache folder is moved. This done by advance settings.XML file. You only want the cache folder move.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

Hi, thanks for this tutorial. I'm trying to do it but after turning the tab green, my XBMC doesn't open. I tried several ways to do it but it doesn't work. It always asks me if I want to copy the files to the destination. Is this necessary? By the way I'm using XBMC Minix Edition.

One last thing, what is the location of XBMC video cache?

Thanks

Edit 1: I'm sure mount folder does its work, I have checked and the folders links are right (it shows the folder when it is supposed to be), but XBMC doesn't open. I've tried with another version of XBMC and even from a different destination (I've tried on an sd card and on a 3tb HDD) but the app doesn't open.

This tutorial says I need to have a class 10 SD Card in order to make it work. That's not my case and I don't know if that's the reason why the process is not complete.

[buhohitr]

Re: How to cache to External SDcard speed up video buffering, faster and smoother video streaming.

Hi, thanks for this tutorial. I'm trying to do it but after turning the tab green, my XBMC doesn't open. I tried several ways to do it but it doesn't work. It always asks me if I want to copy the files to the destination. Is this necessary? By the way I'm using XBMC Minix Edition.

One last thing, what is the location of XBMC video cache?

Thanks

Edit 1: I'm sure mount folder does its work, I have checked and the folders links are right (it shows the folder when it is supposed to be), but XBMC doesn't open. I've tried with another version of XBMC and even from a different destination (I've tried on an sd card and on a 3tb HDD) but the app doesn't open.

This tutorial says I need to have a class 10 SD Card in order to make it work. That's not my case and I don't know if that's the reason why the process is not complete.

No, any sdcard should work if your device can see the card. Here is the process. You need to open xbmc at least once, the reboot your device to make sure xbmc is closed completely. Now install foldermount and pick xbmc directory (com.xbmc.org....), pick source and let the app pick the destination folder if you don't want to create your own. When ask to move file or over write directory, answer yes. Once done, when you enable, the pin should turn green, Now open xbmc, it should work. Your device must have root. When you reboot the device, you have to wait 30sec for the card to mount, you should see a message about the folder has mount successfully. By the way, you also need to set up "unlimited caching for your xbmc using advancesettings.xml

[jsegovia612]

No, any sdcard should work if your device can see the card. Here is the process. You need to open xbmc at least once, the reboot your device to make sure xbmc is closed completely. Now install foldermount and pick xbmc directory (com.xbmc.org....), pick source and let the app pick the destination folder if you don't want to create your own. When ask to move file or over write directory, answer yes. Once done, when you enable, the pin should turn green, Now open xbmc, it should work. Your device must have root. When you reboot the device, you have to wait 30sec for the card to mount, you should see a message about the folder has mount successfully. By the way, you also need to set up "unlimited caching for your xbmc using advancesettings.xml

I have tried this before, but I decided to do it from zero, so I uninstall XBMC (after saving all its folders which contain my configuration) and install it again to follow all the steps. Made it and worked, now XBMC opens. But there are 2 issues.

1.- When I paste the folders to have my previous configuration, XBMC doesn't open. I tried several times but it was impossible.

2.- The only way for XBMC to work implies having no folders, not in source or in destination. I'm starting to configurate a new setup but the system doesn't create its folders. If I manually create or paste just one folder in source or destination, Xbmc doesn't open. And it is going to be okay for playing movies and tv shows, but customization is going to be impossible (no libraries or super favourites, no bookmarks and stuff).

Please help me. Tell me if you have a full operative XBMC or have the same problem.

Thanks

Edit: If I link the system XBMC folder (source) with my previous configuration folders (destination) XBMC doesn't open, but I'm sure it is right because I can see the sd card folders in the internal storage location

[buhohitr]

What is the path for source and destination folders?

[jsegovia612]

What is the path for source and destination folders?

Source: /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/hk.minix.xbmc/
Destin: /storage/external_storage/sdcard1/Android/data/hk.minix.xbmc

[buhohitr]

Probably this is your issue.
Source should be:
/data/data/xbmc folder
Destination:
/mnt/external_sd/xbmc cache folder on sdcard.

[jsegovia612]

Thanks for the help. The only way for me to make the thing works was formatting the micro SD in exFAT. Ext4 didn't work. My device didn't recognize it. I think exFAT is slower, but it is the one that works for me.

Any word about it?

Thanks again